About Us
The White Buffalo Alliance is a US Department of Treasury certified Community Development Entity (CDE), and contributes 56% of profits to community development projects in low-income and under-served communities and to projects that help save our shared natural environment.
The White Buffalo Alliance has federal, state, and sovereign tribal authority and has been a US Treasury certified CDE since 2002. The Alliance is chartered to provide community credit and financial services and to define and protect human and civil rights.
With the goal of promoting true sovereignty, the Alliance partners with indigenous people and underserved communities to launch their own cooperatives and local Credit Programs, and to build sustainability for individuals and businesses.
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Yancey Red Corn
Osage, INTR Founder and CEO
Yancey Red Corn, a member of the Osage Nation and descendant of the Caddo and Potawatomi Nations, recently played Chief Bonnicastle in Martin Scorcese's film "Killers of the Flower Moon," alongside legends Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. He is also producing a TV series, "A Pipe for February," based on his father's book and mentored by Scorcese. Additionally, he portrayed Preacher Paul in an episode of "Reservation Dogs."
Beyond his acting career, Red Corn serves as Vice Chairman and CEO of the Indigenous Nations Tribal Reserve (INTR), drawing on 30 years of experience in investment, business development, and strategic partnerships. In the 1990s, he became a key advocate for Indian oil and gas royalty owners, successfully recovering millions in lost royalties. His extensive network and relationships with tribal leaders span over 50 years, facilitating collaboration between tribal entities and the private sector.
Born on the Osage Reservation, Red Corn's background provides unique insights into federal, state, local, and tribal government interactions. He has lobbied in Washington, D.C., leveraging his Capitol Hill connections. As a Name Giver in the Tzi-Zhu-Wah-Schtah-Gi (Peace Maker Clan), a title passed down through generations, he remains deeply connected to Osage traditions, participating in annual ceremonial dances since childhood.
A former University of Oklahoma Rugby Team member, Red Corn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and pursued Federal Indian Law studies at the University of Oklahoma College of Law. His multifaceted experiences contribute to his comprehensive understanding of tribal affairs and governance.
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Rick Moore
INTR Founder and Chair
Rick Dane Moore is a distinguished graduate with honors, holding a B.A. in Letters (1984) and a law degree (1986) from the University of Oklahoma. Noteworthy achievements include serving as the note editor for the American Indian Law Review and clerking at the Oklahoma State Supreme Court. As an attorney, he litigated diverse cases and represented over a dozen tribes, actively advocating for Indigenous rights against the U.S. government.
Beyond his legal career, Moore served in the U.S. Army Special Forces, specializing in Military Freefall/Combat Diver operations as a Green Beret. His military background includes expertise in sabotage, espionage, guerilla warfare, medicine, and communications.
Moore is the founder and chair of the Indigenous Nations Tribal Reserve (INTR) since 2000, leading initiatives like the digitized ecosystem, Trak$, developed with the guidance of the U.S. SEC, for anticorruption and public safety. A versatile sportsman, he's excelled in sailing, skiing, biathlon, mountaineering, and various endurance competitions, representing the U.S. Army Special Forces in marathons.
Raised in a mixed Anglo-Indigenous family, Moore learned indigenous traditions from his Comanche step-grandfather, who was a POW alongside Geronimo. His upbringing involved farming, ranching, and working in the family's horse training business. As the Red Corn family attorney for three decades, Moore's commitment to Indigenous communities extends to his children, four of whom are Muskogee Nation citizens. His Comanche name, "Cayuse" or "Wild Pony," reflects his contrarian spirit, evident even in his unconventional way of riding crossways in the saddle.
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Jereldine (Jeri) Red Corn
Caddo-Pottawatomi, INTR Founder and Board Member
Jeri Red Corn, an esteemed elder and Caddo Nation member, is recognized for her role in preserving and revitalizing Caddoan pottery—a cultural heritage nearly lost through centuries of colonization. Married to author Charles H. Red Corn, she played a pivotal role in editing his novel, "A Pipe for February." Jeri's given names reflect her diverse heritage: Tho-xa-we in Osage, Ba-hat-nutte in Caddo, and Zi-bi-qua in Potawatomi.
Following a career in teaching math in underserved communities, Jeri discovered Caddoan pottery at an archaeological conference, reigniting a lost art. Despite the absence of Caddo potters, she independently studied ancient artifacts, mastered inscribing designs onto clay, and revived the traditional pit-firing technique. Jeri's dedication led to a renaissance in Caddoan pottery, earning her recognition as a world-renowned artist and a "national treasure."
As a Rockefeller fellow at the Newberry Library, Jeri drew motivation from her ancestral connection. She founded the Oklahoma City Metro Caddo Cultural Club, inspiring and teaching younger generations, and served in the Caddo Nation government. Her work graces museums nationwide, including the Smithsonian and the Heard Museum. Notable owners of her pottery include Don Henley and Sandra Day O’Connor, with the Obama family displaying one of her pots in the Oval Office.
Jeri's artistic influence extends beyond pottery; she was commissioned to design a monumental piece for the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City. A mother of two and a grandmother, Jeri Red Corn's impact transcends her role as an artist, connecting generations and preserving indigenous traditions.
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Tewanna Edwards
Chickasaw and Choctaw, INTR Founder and Board Secretary
Tewanna Edwards, a dedicated advocate, has been instrumental in the Chickasaw Nation and the State of Oklahoma. Since 2004, she has served as the peacemaker at the Chickasaw Nation District Court, embodying values like respect, humility, compassion, spirituality, and honesty. Mrs. Edwards believes peacemaking fosters inner positive peace and contributes to sustainable community growth.
Her exceptional service extends to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) Council for Diversity and Inclusion, where she has been recognized for facilitating connections between Oklahoma tribes and grants. As an OHCA employee since 2014, she empowers individuals in assisted living to regain independence. Mrs. Edwards also served as a liaison for the Money Follows the Person Tribal Living Choice Program, aiding individuals with disabilities in transitioning from institutions to their homes, fostering a more inclusive organizational culture.
Beyond her roles, Mrs. Edwards has narrated films like "Our Mothers Cried," served on the executive council of Oklahoma AARP, and received the first Indian Elder Honor award in 2009. In 2021, the AARP Oklahoma Indian Elders Honors established the Dr. John and Tewanna Edwards Leadership Award, recognizing those embodying the positive impact and leadership spirit of Dr. and Mrs. Edwards. Mrs. Edwards, who prepared First American students for the Oklahoma Native Challenge Bowl, holds cherished memories of podium placements between 2008 and 2012. Born to Jeanette and Edwin Eugene Anderson, Mrs. Edwards is proud of her large family with a notable lineage, including a Choctaw Code Talker and war hero, Otis W. Leader.
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Chief James (Jim) Gray
Osage, Tribal Government Consultant
James (Jim) Roan Gray is the former Principal Chief of the Osage Nation (2002-2010). He was the youngest Chief in the history of the Osage Nation. During his term, Chief Gray, led the Osage Nation through a comprehensive restoration of Osage sovereignty, the right to determine their own citizens and form their own government. This led to enrollment of thousands of Osages who had been left off the rolls for nearly 100 years and a referendum vote that adopted a constitutional form of government for the first time in generations. This effort gave all Osages over the age 18 the right to vote in tribal elections.
Before his term in office, Gray was the Publisher of the Native American Times based in Oklahoma, covering statewide and national issues facing Indian country in the business, arts, culture, music, entertainment, politics, and legal affairs.
After his terms in office, Gray was a tribal administrator for the Cherokee Nation, Sac and Fox Nation and Pawnee Nation. He also served as the Executive Director of the Native American Contractors Association. In more recent years, he has been a consultant working in Indian Country on energy, government reform and government relations. Today, as a direct descendent of one of the victims, he has been a sought out spokesman on the topic of the Osage Murders that occurred during the 1920s now being made into a major Hollywood motion picture known as Killers of the Flower Moon.
Today, he resides in Skiatook, on the Osage Reservation in Oklahoma with his wife (Olivia) and their children, Mary, Henry, Sarah, Olivia, James, Naomi and Nettie. He also enjoys time with his four grandchildren, Bravery, Mina, Essabelle and Honor.
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Ruth Fisher
Chief Economist
Ruth Fisher, PhD, is a systems design researcher, modeler, and analyst. She studies markets to determine how environments shape outcomes. She excels at understanding complex systems and explaining and quantifying the value they provide to different participants. Most recently, she has been involved in the cannabis industry, helping design methods to increase awareness and education and improve outcomes for medical consumers.
Dr. Fisher has 30 years of experience in the technology and healthcare industries and has worked on behalf of technology companies, early-stage researchers, physicians, and technology start-ups. She earned her PhD in economics from the University of Chicago and her BA in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania. She has authored two book, The Medical Cannabis Primer and Winning the Hardware-Software Game: Using Game Theory to Optimize the Pace of New Technology Adoption.
One of her lifelong joys has been her tutoring in math and writing. She has helped children, teens, and adults, and she finds no greater satisfaction than seeing the light of comprehension in a student’s eyes. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, reading, baking, and good conversation.
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Blake Vardaro
White Buffalo Coop Associate
Blake Anthony Vardaro, from Oklahoma City, is immersed in the world of Computer Science, captivated by the boundless potential of computers. His enthusiasm is channeled into a collaboration with INTR, where he eagerly contributes to the development of a digital platform.
Notably, Blake's dedication to serving others extends beyond his academic pursuits. At the age of 18, he earned the title Employee of the Year 2019 at Caresource, a medical equipment delivery company. His commitment to service is encapsulated in his favorite quote, displayed on his award plaque: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others."
Beyond his professional achievements, Blake has made a mark as an Uber driver, completing an impressive 3,500 trips with a stellar 5-star rating. It was during one such trip that he encountered Rick Moore and became intrigued by the concept of an Internet of Trust. Blake is particularly drawn to INTR's commitment to regulatory compliance across various sectors and its respectful engagement with indigenous communities. His values align with the principles of sovereignty, digital inclusion, and financial inclusion.
Blake's personal life is characterized by a fulfilling marriage to Christina for four years, and together, they are parents to two children, Augustus and Juniper. Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Blake finds joy in family activities such as camping, hiking, and rock climbing.